GameSpot: BioShock 2 Review

Rapture may not be as mysterious and intriguing this second time around, but it is nonetheless host to a powerful and moving tale that allows you to better realize--or pervert--Ryan's principles at your own discretion. Regardless of whether or not this is a return visit to paradise lost, there is plenty to be found here to make it a worthwhile, meaningful, and compelling one.
(BioShock 2, PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
8.5/10

No, the hype wasn't AAA. If you're looking for that, look at FF13. Bioshock 2 didn't have that much hype into it. People just expect it to be a AAA game because of the first game. The first game set the bar too high so people expect the same reception on the 2nd one.

BS2 is still a good game, but people think it isn't that good because of the first one's 95 average.

The one thing missing from Bioshock 2 is...Something that made Bioshock one so great. Bioshock 2 lacks the input of Ken Levine. He was a crucial team member in the creation of Bioshock and his input made the game feel right. Anybody that knows what happens to a sequel when he is not present knows what I mean. This game will be good but it won't be what it could have been had he stood at the forefront of the development team.

I think the game is scoring great especially for a game most said wasn't necessary. I thought the critics would give the game must lower scores than this. Kudos to 2K. I'm actually planning on picking it up now.

Lol, I love how people think that getting high 80's and mainly 90's as a score is worthless. Sorry guys and girls, some of your video game standards are out of wack. BS2 looks like its going to be a great gameplay experience, can't wait to pick it up after work. Only question that remains is whether to purchase the PS3 or 360 version. Any thoughts from competent non-fanboys?

I'm rather disappointed by this. Not by the sequel, but my the looks of the game. I remember seeing some random guy draw up his own inspired artwork for what a sequel could look like, his idea and my idea were the same: put the game much further in the past, before everything went to hell. See happy people doing things, and near the end of the game, hint at the city's flaws, obviously creating that sense of irony for the original.

I would of LOVED that idea. unfortunately, this game looks nearly the same as the last one, which isn't a bad thing at all, but considering the fact the original had so much going for it, not to mention drive, ambition and Ken Levine's sense of vision of how EXACTLY he wanted to present such a unique world.

lol!!! it just makes me laugh how people confuse and use the term AAA out of context and turn it into something elseAAA is not a status given to a game because it has a meta score of 90% or higher... LOL!!! contrary to what fanboys would have you believe, AAA is a term used to signifiy the properties BUDGET!, thats right, The Development BUDGET of a product determines if a product, IE: a Movie or a video game or a an electronic device, dictates if that said product is AAA status.

Most Games that have a budget Higher than $10 million like Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Resistance, Grand Theft Auto, Mario, LBP, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, HALO, MASS EFFECT, are all AAA Status because of the Money going into it and marketing funds going into it. Not the review score.

It is why You'll always have Movies and games with Super huge budgets tank in critcal acclaim, but are still none the less AAA status. You fankids need to stop throwing the term around so loosely. AAA=$20m+ budget, not 90-100% meta score. How the hell can hype be considered AAA?!

AAA does not = perfect or almost perfect score Apparently some folks here do not know what a AAA title means or what the qualifiers for a title to be considered one are. Look it up. Any person that finished work on Bioshock 2 will sure as heck list this a AAA delivery in regards to work experience.

Oh shut up with that already!RE5 was a good game. I would even say better than RE4 in certain areas. If you think you could have made a better sequel, pitch the ideas and changes that you would have incorporated and let everyone else decide whether you would have done better or not.

On topic, so far Bioshock 2 has been getting somewhat underwhelming scores. I was expecting nothing but GOTY-calibur reviews just like the original earned.

No, it's more like AC2 than RE5!And I think the single player will be good, but my only problem: "The bad: A bit too familiar for fans of its precursor" that is the same thing I felt when playing AC2.. It was a great game but I felt that I've done everything before! so I think newcomers will like it a bit more...

RE5 was a huge dissapointment. Borderline crap IMOBioshock 2 looks good. I might be in the minority but I think the first Bioshock was overrated. Extremely overrated. However, I did enjoy it and I thought it was a good game. I'm still going to get part 2 because the great thing about Bioshock 1 was the atmosphere and the story and I love story. So this game is still a buy for me.

To MeRE5 wasnt crap as a stand alone it was utter garage compared to other RE's .

okay i lied RE5 was really only that much fun in coop. if you try to speed run thru that game you actually are saddened by how little content and area there is in the game i mean hell there is like 15x were you run thru a ally with nothing in it just to get to a new load sceen. Complete worthless but fun coop.

They have high standards because their parents will only buy them one or two games a year. Thus they have to wait for that perfect must have game of the year or all their friends will think they are lame.

How about: they have OPINIONSThey are allowed to think whatever they want about a game.

IMO the shooting and much of the gameplay in Bioshock was bad. The game played out like Clive Barker's Undying back in the day. The STORY was what sold the game. Had tons of potential until just under half way through, then plateaued. The story couldnt save it after that.

I WAS hoping that Bioshock 2 would be what I wanted in the first game. Looks like the gameplay has been tightened up a bit, but the story took a big hit. I do like that you can explore outside Rapture though, there are definitely some good ideas in this game.

Would have LOVED it if (as one poster stated above) they went back before Rapture went to hell and you got to witness things falling apart...woulda been sweeeet

Played about 4 hours so far...and I'm really enjoying it. The first game felt a little loose and over-long to me. The story was convoluted and drawn out. So far, Bioshock 2 feels a much tighter experience. The gunplay is better too, though still very different to your average 'war' FPS. Rapture is still an enthralling place, though so far it feels a bit smaller. Still lots of nice attention to detail thoigh.

Overall, I'm pleased, and I think all you fickle gamers should give it a go. Reviewers are only marking this down because it has lost some of the 'wow' factor that the first one had, but that is only because the first game exists! Judged on its own merits, this is still a jaw-dropping example of gaming.

I only picked it up because the Rapture Edition was cheap on Zavvi, and I'm really glad I did.

Disagree???Im playing this game as we speak and its awsome.I love the story so far and the multiplayer is fun as hell.Trust me guys and girls you going to love this game.From what I have played its as good as the first.Being the Big Daddy is crazy.It has its advantages but disadvantages as well.So if you like the first one just go and get it you will be surprised how good it really is.Dont listen to reviews because the expactations are way to high and never really give games a chance in hell.Its your opinion of the game that matters not someone elses.

8 is a point too high for Uncharted in my opinion. I have not played the second but I was disappointed in Drake's Fortune. ESPECIALLY the jet ski level. That was horrible. I'd give the first Uncharted a 7 personally.

Everything about the game has been improved, I really liked the first game, I think this one is pretty much the same apart from the user enhancements. Overall I rate it higher than the first because of the online play which is pretty good

cant understand 8.5 when every military fps keeps hitting 9 and up!!!i thought the first one was a masterpiece and it was something different rather than all the same military based fps that keeps getting recycled. cant figure out how every damn modern warfare call of duty medal of honour recycled sequel keep getting high scores. they are always the same damn game!!! where as something different and miles better gets judged so critical. the hell with these reviewers. 8.5 is a great score, but comon 9 and ups all the time for military fps just doesnt make any sense. they just cant go wrong i guess!

ok!!!RE5 was a great game by itself, if you line it up with the rest of the franchise not so much. So leave it out of the discussion. The question is does Bioshock 2 deserve the score and reviews is getting. That remains to be seen. Let the gamers decide. While i do on occasion look into reviews of games to get an idea of if i will purchase it or not, its not the only factor. if you bash games based on what reviewers are saying the day the game comes out how will you know if you haven't played it. I do understand that $60 is alot to invest in bad games. but basing it on reviewers only recommendations and standards will eventually shrink the pool of available games to play.. i don't care what platform you are using.